WILMINGTON - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal
court yesterday Senior United States District Judge James C. Fox sentenced MARCUS ANTONIO
MCNEILL, 38, of Lillington, North Carolina, to 420 months’ imprisonment followed by five years
supervised release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment on June
25, 2008. On January 30, 2009, a jury convicted MCNEILL of Count 1
of the Indictment, which charged conspiring to distribute and
possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of cocaine
base (crack) and more than five kilograms of cocaine. On January
30, 2009, prior to jury deliberations, MCNEILL pled guilty to Count
5 of the Indictment, which charged distributing more than five
grams of cocaine base (crack).

Information received through numerous cooperating defendants
and controlled buys during the investigation revealed MCNEILL’s
distribution of crack cocaine and powder cocaine in Harnett County
and the surrounding area since July, 1991. Based upon the
information received, it is estimated that MCNEILL sold 4.04
kilograms of cocaine and 13.65 kilograms of crack cocaine.

Mr. Holding commented, “The significant amount of time given
the defendant by the Court is indicative of the seriousness of this
offense. I want to commend the hard work of the investigators in
this important case.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the North Carolina State
Bureau of Investigation; the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office; and
the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Eric
Goulian served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.